ORLANDO, Flordia: The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) opened its road toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Peru on Saturday at a sold-out Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The victory marked Mauricio Pochettino’s first match since signing a new contract that keeps him as U.S. head coach through 2030. The match also featured a strong showing from a new generation of American players, with 11 players earning their first senior international cap, including eight teenagers.

Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored on their international debuts, while Malik Tillman converted a second-half penalty and Sebastian Berhalter capped the victory with a spectacular long-range goal.

The United States made a fast start when 19-year-old Justin Ellis scored less than four minutes into his senior international debut. Ellis drew a foul on the left side of the field, earning the U.S. a free kick. Gio Reyna delivered the set piece, and Ellis rose inside the penalty area to head the ball toward the far post and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The goal was the fastest scored by a U.S. player on his senior debut in the modern era. Ellis also became the first player to score on his USMNT debut in his home state since Brandon Vazquez in 2023.

Peru responded in the 15th minute through veteran striker Gianluca Lapadula. Captain Yoshimar Yotún sent a cross toward the far post, where Lapadula rose above the defense and headed the ball into the opposite corner to make it 1-1. The U.S. continued to create opportunities before halftime, but Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made an important save to deny Malik Tillman from close range.

The match remained level until the 66th minute, when the United States regained the advantage from the penalty spot. Two minutes after entering the match for his international debut, Mathis Albert made a dangerous run into the penalty area and was brought down by a Peruvian defender. The referee awarded a penalty, and Tillman stepped forward to take it.

Tillman calmly sent his right-footed shot into the net to make it 2-1. It was Tillman’s third goal in three consecutive matches for the United States.

The U.S. extended its lead six minutes later. In the 72nd minute, Sebastian Berhalter delivered a dangerous cross toward the far post, and 18-year-old Julian Hall threw himself at the ball and redirected it into the net. Hall, who plays for New York Red Bulls, scored in his first appearance for the senior national team. He also became the first U.S. player since Matko Miljevic in January 2025 to score and record an assist in his senior international debut.

Sebastian Berhalter put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute with a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area. After receiving the ball from Hall, Berhalter took his chance from roughly 25 yards and fired a powerful shot beyond Gallese’s reach to make it 4-1. It was Berhalter’s third international goal in 19 appearances for the United States.

The statistics reflected the United States’ control of the match. The USMNT enjoyed 70 percent possession, completed 94 percent of its passes and outshot Peru 16-5. The victory also extended the U.S. team’s unbeaten run at its Orlando home venue to eight matches. The game was played before a sellout crowd of 24,228.

The match marked the beginning of a new phase for the U.S. national team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Eleven players made their senior international debuts: Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Cavan Sullivan and Frankie Westfield. Cavan Sullivan, at 16 years and 363 days, became the fourth-youngest player to make his senior debut for the United States. The youthful lineup included three teenagers from the start: Ellis, Sullivan and defender Peyton Miller.

Pochettino used the Peru match to introduce a number of young players while also giving several established internationals important minutes. The U.S. coach has a new contract extending through 2030, and the Peru match was the first step toward building the squad for the next World Cup cycle.

The United States will play three more matches during the current international window, beginning with Chile on September 29 in St. Louis. The team will then face Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona, before closing the window against Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Final Score:
United States 4-1 Peru

Goals:
4′ — Justin Ellis (USA)
15′ — Gianluca Lapadula (Peru)
66′ — Malik Tillman (USA, penalty)
72′ — Julian Hall (USA)
90′ — Sebastian Berhalter (USA)

SANDY, Utah: Ashley Sanchez has joined elite company in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history, scoring her 20th goal of the 2026 season to tie the league’s single-season scoring record. Sanchez converted a penalty in the 37th minute against the Utah Royals on Sunday, becoming only the second player in NWSL history to reach 20 goals in a single regular season. The record was previously set by Temwa Chawinga of the Kansas City Current in 2024. The milestone came despite a disappointing result for Sanchez and the North Carolina Courage, who fell 2-1 to the Utah Royals at America First Field.

Utah opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Cloé Lacasse headed the ball across goal and into the net following a cross from Miyabi. North Carolina responded 20 minutes later after Gianna Paul drew a foul inside the penalty area. Sanchez stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 37th minute to make it 1-1. The goal was Sanchez’s 20th of the season and her 27th career regular-season goal for the Courage. She also reached 24 goal contributions for the season, the second-highest total recorded in a single NWSL season.

With four regular-season matches still to play, Sanchez has an opportunity to become the first player in NWSL history to score more than 20 goals in a single season. The 27-year-old forward currently leads the league’s Golden Boot race with 20 goals. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is second with 16 goals. Sanchez has enjoyed a remarkable season. Earlier this month, she set the record for most goals by an American player in a single NWSL season, surpassing the previous mark of 15 held by Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn.

Despite Sanchez’s historic goal, North Carolina could not secure a point. Cece Delzer restored Utah’s lead in the 65th minute, scoring from Mina Tanaka’s assist. The Royals held on through the final whistle to claim a 2-1 victory. The defeat left the Courage with a 12-11-3 record and four regular-season matches remaining. North Carolina sits just one point and one place outside the playoff positions.

The Courage will next travel to face the Seattle Reign, with the match scheduled for Friday night. For Sanchez, however, the focus will be on history. With four games remaining, she needs just one more goal to claim the NWSL single-season scoring record outright.

Final Score: Utah Royals 2-1 North Carolina Courage

Goals:
17′ — Cloé Lacasse (Utah)
37′ — Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina, penalty)
65′ — Cece Delzer (Utah)

COLUMBUS, Ohio: Lionel Messi scored a spectacular free kick, but Inter Miami CF suffered a late 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew on Sunday night. Messi’s brilliant strike from a tight angle canceled out Josef Martínez’s 28th-minute penalty, but Jamal Thiaré scored deep into stoppage time to give Columbus all three points at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Columbus opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Martínez converted from the penalty spot. Just five minutes later, Messi responded with a stunning free kick from the right side of the field. Despite the difficult angle, the Argentine forward curled the ball perfectly into the net to level the match at 1-1. The goal was Messi’s 21st in the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season, extending his lead in the league’s Golden Boot race. Major League Soccer subsequently highlighted Messi’s strike among the standout goals of Matchday 28, describing it as a goal scored from an “impossible angle.”

Inter Miami had chances to take the lead after halftime, but Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made several important saves. Messi came close again in the 62nd minute, but his left-footed effort from outside the box was saved by Schulte. Inter Miami also had a goal ruled out for offside later in the second half. The match appeared headed for a draw until the eighth minute of stoppage time. Jamal Thiaré found the net from inside the box in the 98th minute, sending the home crowd into celebration and giving Columbus a dramatic 2-1 victory.

The victory was significant for Columbus, which secured consecutive league wins for only the second time this season. The Crew also moved within four points of ninth-place New York City FC in the Eastern Conference playoff race. A record crowd of 21,188 watched the match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Inter Miami will return home for its next Major League Soccer regular-season match against D.C. United on October 10. Despite the defeat, Messi remains the league’s leading scorer with 21 goals this season.

Final Score:
Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami CF

Goals:
28′ — Josef Martínez (Columbus)
33′ — Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
90+8′ — Jamal Thiaré (Columbus)

Shibbir Ahmed, New York: The world remains far from fulfilling the commitments made 25 years ago to end racial discrimination, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Irene Khan, said Monday. Khan made the remarks at a high-level event at the United Nations marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA).

The ambassador said the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted 25 years ago made a clear commitment that no person should face discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. However, she said the world remains far from fully implementing that commitment.

Khan reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment to the full and effective implementation of the DDPA. She called for greater efforts in justice, education, development and international cooperation to address structural discrimination rooted in slavery, colonialism and other historical injustices. She also stressed the need to strengthen protection of the rights of migrants, refugees, forcibly displaced people, minorities, women, children and others in vulnerable situations.

Addressing the issue of artificial intelligence, Khan said emerging technologies should be used to advance sustainable development rather than spread hatred and incitement to violence. She also stressed the need to ensure that human rights, equality and non-discrimination are protected in the development of artificial intelligence.

“Bangladesh is committed to building a world where the diversity and dignity of all people are upheld, both online and offline,” Khan said.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The United States has announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals accused by the Trump administration of undermining democratically elected governments through corruption or narcotrafficking in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. Department of State said the new policy applies under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and can also affect the immediate family members of targeted individuals. The provision allows the United States to restrict entry when an individual’s presence or proposed activities could have potentially serious adverse consequences for U.S. foreign policy.

The State Department said the policy follows commitments made at the Doral Summit and reaffirmed in the Shield of the Americas leaders’ statement issued September 22. The administration said the United States would coordinate sanctions, designations and financial measures against individuals involved in activities that threaten security, the rule of law and democratic governance.

Initial visa-restriction actions were announced for nationals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

In Bolivia, the State Department said it had taken steps to impose restrictions on 12 nationals and their families, including prosecutors, judges, a former justice minister, a police colonel, a former customs official and a private businessman. Existing U.S. visas for the named individuals were revoked, according to the department. Nine additional Bolivian nationals who do not currently hold U.S. visas were also made generally ineligible to receive visas, along with their families.

In Colombia, the United States said it revoked the visas of businessman Euclides Antonio Torres Romero and Senator Martha Isabel Peralta Epieyu and imposed corresponding restrictions on their families. The State Department identified Torres Romero as a businessman whose conglomerate operates mainly in the energy, traffic-signal and public-lighting sectors. Peralta Epieyu is affiliated with Colombia’s Historic Pact and the Alternative Indigenous and Social Movement, according to the department.

The State Department said two Ecuadorian nationals were also targeted under the new policy, with their visas revoked. The individuals were not identified in the announcement.

In Peru, the department said it revoked the existing U.S. visa of Juan Carlos Nunez Matos, a judge of the First Circuit Constitutional Court in Lima, and imposed restrictions on his family.

Separately, the State Department publicly designated Bolivia’s Attorney General Roger Mariaca under Section 7031(c) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026.

The department alleged that Mariaca was involved in significant corruption and had abused his public positions by soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate narcotrafficking and helping violent criminals evade justice. The State Department said the designation makes Mariaca and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

The allegations against Mariaca are claims made by the U.S. government in announcing the designation.

Section 7031(c) allows the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate foreign officials and their immediate family members when the Secretary has credible information indicating involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights.

The State Department said the new visa restriction policy provides the United States with a mechanism to act as evidence develops and to coordinate measures with partner governments.

The administration said the measures are intended to support democratic governance, security and the rule of law across the Western Hemisphere while targeting corruption and narcotrafficking.

NEW YORK: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman is carrying out his responsibilities in New York as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with questions emerging over the reported cost of his accommodation, daily allowances, transportation and other expenses during his assignment.

A Sept. 26 report by journalist Chandan Nandy in Northeast News said Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved a monthly housing budget of up to $20,000 for Rahman’s residence in Manhattan. The report said the ministry had arranged accommodation for him during his assignment in New York. It also cited a monthly official housing allowance of $12,000 for Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

According to the report, a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry order dated Aug. 30, 2026, covered Rahman’s assignment from Aug. 31 through Oct. 21. The report said the government order also provided for a Mercedes-Benz vehicle for his official local transportation in New York.

The same report said Rahman, as a full Cabinet minister of Bangladesh, is entitled to a daily allowance of $420 while on official foreign duty. Based on that rate, the report calculated that an eight-month period of official duties would result in approximately $100,800 in daily allowances.

That eight-month figure is a calculation based on the reported $420 daily rate and should not be treated as a confirmed final government payment. The exact amount ultimately paid would depend on the applicable government rules, the actual number of eligible days and the official accounting records.

The United Nations separately states that the President of the General Assembly is not a UN employee and does not receive a UN salary. The UN’s guidance says the salary of the PGA is generally a matter for the government of the country that nominates the President. It also states that accommodation in New York is usually provided by the Permanent Mission of the sponsoring country.

Rahman was elected President of the 81st General Assembly on June 2, 2026. UN records show that he subsequently assumed the presidency when the 81st session opened in September. The UN election record shows that Rahman received 99 votes against 91 for Cyprus’s Andreas Kakouris.

The reported expenses therefore need to be distinguished from the operating costs of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. The two are not necessarily the same source of expenditure.

The Office of the President of the General Assembly has funding from the UN regular budget as well as a trust fund supported by Member States. The office uses those resources for activities connected to the presidency, including certain official travel and operational requirements.

Bangladesh has also pledged funds to the trust fund supporting the Office of the President of the General Assembly. However, such contributions should not automatically be interpreted as payments for Rahman’s personal salary, accommodation or daily allowance. The funding categories of the office and the personal entitlements of the PGA are separate matters.

UN guidance also indicates that travel costs for the President of the General Assembly can, depending on the circumstances, be supported either by the host country or by the regular budget of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

The composition of Rahman’s office also involves several Bangladeshi officials. The UN’s staff profile for the 81st session lists 40 colleagues representing 29 nationalities. It distinguishes between regular-budget positions, staff seconded by Member States and positions supported through the Office of the President’s Trust Fund.

The Northeast News report said Rahman is supported in New York by six Bangladeshi officials, five of whom were drawn from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said their salaries and overseas allowances remain linked to their respective government positions. Those details are based on the report and would require the underlying government records for independent verification.

The reported $20,000 monthly accommodation figure, $420 daily allowance and Mercedes-Benz vehicle therefore relate to Bangladesh’s reported arrangements for its Foreign Minister during his New York assignment. They should not be described as benefits paid by the United Nations unless separate UN records establish such payments.

The broader financial picture involves several different categories of expenditure. Rahman remains a Bangladeshi government minister whose salary is paid by Bangladesh, while his responsibilities as General Assembly President are supported through a combination of UN and Member State resources under the applicable rules.

At present, the most detailed public figures concerning Rahman’s accommodation, daily allowance and vehicle come from the Sept. 26 report by Chandan Nandy. The underlying Bangladesh Foreign Ministry order and complete financial records would provide a stronger basis for independently confirming the exact amounts and determining which government budget lines were used.

What is established by the UN is that Khalilur Rahman is President of the 81st General Assembly and is not a UN employee receiving a UN salary. The specific figures concerning his New York accommodation, daily allowance and vehicle remain matters that can be further verified against the underlying Bangladesh government documents.

NEW YORK: Barrister Zaima Rahman is serving as a Legal Officer in the Office of the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the UN’s official staff records. The UN Office of the President of the General Assembly lists Rahman as a P-3 Legal Officer from Bangladesh working in the Executive Office. Her position is among eight posts funded through the UN regular budget. The staff profile, updated as of Sept. 25, lists 40 colleagues in the President’s Office, representing 29 nationalities.

The UN’s team page describes Rahman as a barrister and legal and policy professional with experience in the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Rahman is the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. BSS reported that the Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary, KM Nazmul Haque, said the existing UN rules and appointment process were strictly followed in her case.

Rahman studied law and politics at Queen Mary University of London and qualified as a barrister in England and Wales through the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Her professional background includes legal and policy work in both the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, according to her official UN biography.

Publicly available professional information also shows that Rahman has worked in several legal roles in the United Kingdom, including positions involving legal assistance and court advocacy. Some of those roles overlapped during 2021 and 2022. Such employment history, by itself, does not establish whether a candidate was qualified or unqualified for a subsequent UN position.

Rahman’s appointment has attracted attention partly because the President of the 81st General Assembly is Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman. The UN elected him to the presidency on June 2, 2026, and the 81st session opened on Sept. 8. The Office of the President currently includes six Bangladeshi officials, according to BSS. The UN staff profile identifies several of them, including Deputy Chef de Cabinet Md. Abdul Alim and Senior Adviser Mafizul Islam, alongside Rahman.

The UN’s publicly available staff information provides details about Rahman’s position, grade and funding source, but does not set out the individual selection process that led to her appointment. It does not identify who nominated her or who made the final hiring decision.

That distinction is important because the UN staff profile separates regular-budget positions from officials seconded by Member States and positions supported by the Office of the President’s Trust Fund. Rahman is listed among the regular-budget positions rather than among the 20 officials seconded by Member States.

At present, the public UN record confirms Rahman’s appointment and her role as a P-3 Legal Officer. It does not, however, provide evidence that Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman personally arranged or secured her appointment. Further information about the recruitment process, including any relevant vacancy announcement, selection documentation or official explanation from the United Nations, would be needed to establish how the appointment was made.

For now, the documented facts are that Zaima Rahman serves as a Legal Officer in the Executive Office of the President of the 81st General Assembly, her position is funded through the UN regular budget, and the UN publicly identifies her as a Bangladeshi legal and policy professional.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, DC — The Trump administration announced a new visa restriction policy Monday aimed at pressuring foreign officials to help resolve international parental child abduction cases involving children taken across international borders.

The policy targets foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, law enforcement officials and others who are determined to be responsible for, or complicit in, intentionally obstructing the prompt resolution of international parental child abduction cases.

Under the new policy, the United States may restrict visa issuance to individuals who intentionally fail to implement or comply with laws, policies or court orders intended to resolve such cases and facilitate the return of children to their country of habitual residence. The restrictions may also apply to the immediate family members of targeted individuals. The State Department said the policy provides the department with an additional accountability tool to encourage countries to meet their obligations and cooperate in resolving cases.

“The Department proactively works to prevent abductions and facilitate the quick and safe return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence,” the department said in its announcement.

The administration said the policy is intended to strengthen U.S. efforts to protect American children abducted across international borders and reunite them with their parents. The State Department also said the measures are intended to promote accountability when countries fail to meet their obligations under international law. The new visa restrictions are being implemented pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The department emphasized that the United States remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of American children involved in international parental child abduction cases.

Shibbir AHmed, New York — World leaders and senior officials are continuing high-level diplomatic discussions at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with conflicts, artificial intelligence, climate change, development and international cooperation remaining central issues.

The General Assembly’s high-level week, which runs through September 28, has brought together leaders and representatives from across the world to address major global challenges and debate the future of multilateral cooperation.

The General Debate is scheduled to continue on September 28, following several days of speeches and diplomatic meetings focused on international security, regional conflicts, economic development and emerging global challenges.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as an important issue during this year’s UN discussions. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for stronger international governance of AI and warned that technological developments are moving faster than existing global institutions can respond.

The UN has also placed conflicts and international diplomacy at the center of the General Assembly agenda as governments seek diplomatic approaches to ongoing crises, including tensions in the Middle East. The UN General Assembly’s 81st session is being chaired by Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman. The session’s theme is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

A major UN meeting taking place today, September 28, is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which focuses on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The high-level week has also included meetings on climate action, sea-level rise and pandemic preparedness, reflecting the broad range of issues being addressed by the international community.

As the high-level portion of the General Assembly concludes, diplomatic attention remains focused on how governments can address conflicts, technological risks and other global challenges through international cooperation.

NEW YORK — A powerful nor’easter continued to batter the U.S. Northeast on Sunday, bringing coastal flooding, strong winds, heavy rain and power outages from New Jersey through New England. The slow-moving storm pounded coastal communities for a second consecutive day, with tidal surges flooding low-lying neighborhoods in New Jersey while strong winds brought down trees and utility poles on New York’s Long Island.

Some areas of New Jersey received more than 4 inches of rain since Friday. The combination of heavy rainfall and rising ocean water produced significant flooding in several coastal communities, with some residents reporting water entering homes and businesses.

More than 100,000 customers across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were without power at times Sunday, while numerous flights were canceled or delayed. Boston Logan International Airport reported more than 250 cancellations by late Sunday morning as strong winds affected the region.

The National Weather Service said the storm was gradually weakening but warned that tidal flooding could continue through additional high-tide cycles. Local officials in New Jersey and New York also warned that another high tide could bring further flooding Monday.

The storm also generated dangerous surf and coastal erosion concerns along the Atlantic shoreline. Forecasters expected the remaining heavy rain to affect parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic as the system moved through the region. The nor’easter’s impact has brought renewed concerns for vulnerable coastal communities still dealing with the effects of repeated flooding and severe weather events.